8 Days Lemosho Route

Day 1: Arrival At The Airport

After arrival at the airport (Kilimanjaro / Arusha), your private driver guide will pick you up at the airport and transfer you to your accommodation for dinner and overnight awaiting for your departure on the following day. Your safari guide will meet you at your accommodation for the briefing and equipment checkup.

Day 2: Arusha (1400m) – Lemosho Gate (2150m) To Big Tree Camp

• Hiking time: 3 hours

• Habitat: Rain Forest

After breakfast at your hotel, you will drive two hours and a half from Arusha (1400m) to Londorossi Park Gate (2150m). At the entrance gate, the guides and porters distribute the supplies and register with the Tanzania National Parks Authority (TANAPA). You are now ready to begin your 3-hour hike into the rain forest. Be on the lookout for Colobus monkeys! At the gate, we will have hot lunch, and then commence through undisturbed forest which winds to the first camp site. The porters, who arrive at the campsite before the clients, will set up your tent and boil water for drinking and washing. The chef will prepare a snack then dinner for the clients. At nighttime, mountain temperatures may drop to freezing so be prepared!.

Day 3: Big Tree To Shira Camp 1 To Shira Camp 2

• Elevation (ft):9,500ft to 12,500ft

• Distance: 18 km

• Hiking Time: 8-10 hours

• Habitat: Moorland

We continue on the trail leading out of the forest and into a savannah of tall grasses, heather, and volcanic rock draped with lichen beards. As we ascend through the lush rolling hills and cross several streams, we reach the Shira Ridge before dropping gently down to Shira 1 camp. The view of Kibo from across the plateau is amazing. From here, it is a gentle walk east toward Kibo’s glaciered peak, across the plateau to Shira 2 camp on moorland meadows by a stream.

Day 4: Shira Camp 2 To Lava Tower To Barranco Camp

• Elevation (ft): 12,500ft to 13,000ft

• Distance: 10 km

• Hiking Time: 6-8 hours

• Habitat: Semi Desert

From the Shira Plateau, we continue to the east up a ridge, passing the junction towards the peak of Kibo. As we continue, our direction changes to the South East towards the Lava Tower, called the “Shark’s Tooth.” Shortly after the tower, we come to the second junction which brings us up to the Arrow Glacier at an altitude of 16,000ft. We now continue down to the Barranco camp at an altitude of 13,000ft. Here we rest, enjoy dinner, and overnight.

Day 5: Barranco Camp (3900m) – Karanga Camp (3995m)

• Hiking time: 4 hours

• Distance: About 7 km’s

• Habitat: Semi desert

The famous Barranco Wall, which is probably the steepest part of the entire route, awaits you after breakfast. Although no technical climbing is necessary, some spots do require you to use your hands for a better grip and to pull yourself up. Your guide will be close by to help you if necessary. After you have pulled yourself around the Kissing Rock, you will make your way along the mountain ridge and through the Karanga Valley. You will also pass the last water spot as you finally reach Karanga Camp. After a well-deserved meal, it is off to bed.

Day 6: Barranco Camp (3900m) – Karanga Camp (3995m)

• Hiking time: 4 hours

• Distance: About 7 km’s

• Habitat: Semi desert

The famous Barranco Wall, which is probably the steepest part of the entire route, awaits you after breakfast. Although no technical climbing is necessary, some spots do require you to use your hands for a better grip and to pull yourself up. Your guide will be close by to help you if necessary. After you have pulled yourself around the Kissing Rock, you will make your way along the mountain ridge and through the Karanga Valley. You will also pass the last water spot as you finally reach Karanga Camp. After a well-deserved meal, it is off to bed.

Day 7: Karanga Camp (3995m) – Barafu Camp (4667m)

• Hiking time: 7 hours

• Distance: About 2 km

• Habitat: Alpine Desert

Today you will make your way to Barafu Camp. The landscape is very dry and the ground cracks like glass under your boots. As you make your way through the afro-alpine dessert to the rocky Barafu Camp, a sense of excitement sweeps over you as your final stretch is only a few hours away. The Barafu Camp with its rocky scenery allows for a stunning view of Mawenzi Peak and the summit path ahead. After an early dinner and last-minute preparation for tomorrow, you will go to bed.

Day 8: Summit Attempt, Barafu Camp (4667m) - Uhuru Peak (5895m) - Mweka (3100m)

• Hiking time: 7 hours to reach Uhuru Peak / 7 hours to descend to Mweka

• Distance: About 14 km

• Habitat: Stone scree and ice-capped summit

You will wake up around 2300hrs, and after some tea and biscuits you start climbing to Uhuru peak into the night. You will head in a northwesterly direction and ascend through heavy scree towards Stella Point on the crater rim. This 6-hour walks to Stella point is for many climbers, mentally and physically the most challenging on the route. At Stella Point (5757m) you will stop for a short rest and will be rewarded with the most magnificent sunrise you are ever likely to see (weather permitting). From Stella Point you will normally encounter snow all the way on your 1-hour ascent to Uhuru Peak. The time you will spend on the summit will depend on the weather conditions. Do not stop here for too long, as it will be extremely difficult to start again due to cold and fatigue. Enjoy your accomplishment and a day to remember for the rest of your life. The walk back to Barafu from the summit, takes about 3 hours. Here you will have a well-earned but short rest and collect the rest of your gear, before heading down to Mweka hut (3100m). The route is not difficult and will take you down the rock and scree path into the moorland and eventually into the forest. The camp is situated in the upper forest and mist or rain can be expected in the late afternoon. Dinner and washing water will be prepared.

Day 9: Mweka Camp (3100m) - Mweka Gate (1980m)

• Hiking time: 3 hours

• Distance: About 2 km

• Habitat: Forest

After an early and well-deserved breakfast, it is a short 3-hour and scenic hike back to the Park gate. At Mweka gate you sign your name and details in a register. This is also where successful climbers receive their summit certificates. Those climbers who reached Stella Point (5757m) are issued with green certificates and those who reached Uhuru Peak (5895m) receive gold certificates. From the Mweka Gate you will continue down into the Mweka village, normally a muddy 3 km (1 hour) hike. At the Mweka Gate, you will have lunch and celebration with your mountain crew.

After that, you will be transferred to a hotel in Moshi or Arusha for hot shower probably dinner and overnight or otherwise in the evening you will be transferred to Kilimanjaro International Airport to connect with your flight back home.